FARMINGTON, N.M. /eNewsChannels/ — Each Labor Day Weekend Native American craftsmen meet near the confluence of the Animas, La Plata and San Juan Rivers in Farmington, N.M. for the Totah Festival. “We gather for friendship,” says George Francis, Totah Festival Foundation Board President, “and we come to sell arts and crafts before the winter comes to the Four Corners.” Farmington, a Four Corners center of trade, lies in a river valley which the Navajos once called Totah, “the place where rivers meet.”
The Totah Festival is a Native American fine arts and crafts show and marketplace with an authentic Indian rug auction, and displays of the best work of more than 100 artisans from the Four Corners. A contest pow-wow is held on the front lawn of the Farmington Civic Center. Many of the artisans demonstrate their skills for the crowd which numbers 10,000 over the two days. The September festival has drawn native weavers, sculptors, jewelers, potters and carvers to Farmington for over two decades.
Farmington has long been a focal point for trading Southwestern Indian wares. It’s a place where collectors and admirers of authentic Indian crafts go to find fine goods at affordable prices from emerging artists.
“Because we want to get the word out to buyers from around the country about Totah, this year we have produced a film that catches the flavor of this colorful festival,” explains Debbie Dusenbery, Executive Director of the Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau. See it here . Dusenbery also sits the board Totah Festival Foundation.
The Totah Festival this year opens on Saturday, September 3, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Farmington Civic Center, 200 W. Arrington in Farmington’s historic downtown. It continues on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The picturesque Pow Wow on the Civic Center lawn continues until 6 p.m. on Sunday.
More information about this region’s native craftsman, trading posts, galleries and special events can be found through the Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau at http://www.farmingtonnm.org or call 800-448-1240, for questions about accommodations and the many things to see and do in the Four Corners area.
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